Saudi Arabia Frees American Retiree Imprisoned Over Critical Social Media Posts
The Kingdom has granted permission for US citizen Saad Almadi to return home to Florida, five months ahead of the scheduled lifting of travel restrictions and a day after the kingdom's leader and head of government met Donald Trump at the White House.
Judicial Proceedings Background
Almadi, 75, was sentenced to 19 years of imprisonment in the kingdom in 2021 after he posted 14 tweets critical of the Riyadh government. Two years later, the allegations were modified to termed "cyber crimes" and he was sentenced to a 30-year ban on departing from Saudi Arabia.
"Our family is overjoyed that, after four long years, our father, Saad Almadi, is finally on his way home to the United States!"
The announcement that Almadi, a person with dual nationality and former engineering professional who had resided in the US since the 1970s, would be allowed to depart the country came after the US president gave an address promoting US-Saudi ties, including weapons deals and investment deals.
Political Recognition
"This moment would not have been possible without President Donald Trump and the persistent work of his administration. We are extremely thankful to Dr Sebastian Gorka and the team at the national security council, as well as everyone at the state department," the statement continued.
The statement by Almadi's son, Ibrahim Almadi, also expressed gratitude to various charitable groups, including the James Foley Fund and Hostages America, and House speaker Mike Johnson for backing the elder Almadi's cause. He later posted on social media that his father was on his way to the US.
Broader Context
Almadi is one of a small number of American dual citizens facing exit bans from Saudi Arabia following a clampdown on online dissent. His son has previously claimed that Almadi was pressured to sign papers renouncing his US citizenship.
The legal proceedings involving Almadi centered on social media posts in which he was accused of urged Saudi citizens to seek Lebanese citizenship and criticized the kingdom's defenses against Houthi rocket strikes.
More controversially, he expressed approval for the renaming of a street in the US capital after Jamal Khashoggi, the journalist and Washington Post columnist murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
Khashoggi Case
US intelligence reports released by the Biden administration later concluded that the crown prince had approved of a plan to "detain or eliminate" Khashoggi.
Asked about the killing, Trump said the crown prince "knew nothing" of Khashoggi's killing. The Saudi crown prince has maintained his innocence. He said at the White House that Saudi Arabia "took appropriate measures" to investigate Khashoggi's death, which he called "distressing" and a "major error".
International Efforts
US pressure to release Almadi and allow him to come back to the US has been increasing since Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia in May. Many appealed to Trump's assertion that he is particularly effective in bringing back US citizens held overseas.
When questioned by journalists in May about the case, Trump said he didn't know about it but vowed to investigate. A few weeks later, one of his security advisors, Gorka, met the younger Almadi at the White House.
"President Trump is the master negotiator and he loves to do business with the Saudis and we will secure your father's release," Johnson said.
